Tomko to start tomorrow night, Duchscherer out again

Brett Tomko will be called up Monday to start against the Yankees – the team that released him in July – because Justin Duchscherer is again out with a “non baseball-related” issue, according to the A’s. The team will not say if it’s the same issue that scratched him from a start at the end of July or if it’s something new. Medical privacy laws are very strict, and because the team will not elaborate whatsoever, there is a strong probability that this is a medical issue. If Duchscherer had had a setback from his March elbow surgery or more back trouble, that’s baseball related and that information could be released. If it were a personal matter, the team could say that it is a personal matter, at the very least.

The fact that no details have emerged whatsoever makes a medical issue the most likely – and the fact that this is the second time Duchscherer’s rehab has been interrupted by such a problem makes it much less likely that a contender would take a flier on him. There had been quite a bit of interest from contenders in the two-time All-Star but time is running out to be playoff-eligible (players must be on the roster by Aug. 31 unless replacing an injured player)and the mysterious nature of these setbacks presumably would concern potential trade partners.

Tomko threw 55 pitches his last time out for Triple-A Sacramento; he’s been building up his pitch count since the A’s signed him earlier this month. The 36-year-old has the benefit of plenty of big-league experience. “It will be nice to see him,” his former Dodgers teammate Nomar Garciaparra said.